*Joint Release*

Man Charged With Stealing Mail, Packages in Chelmsford and Wenham

Wenham Police Continuing to Investigate Additional Thefts

DAVID E. GOMEZ, 25, OF REVERE is facing several charges after he allegedly stole mail and packages from homes in Chelmsford and Wenham on Tuesday, Dec. 19. (Chelmsford Police Department Booking Photo)

CHELMSFORD — Chelmsford Police Chief James M. Spinney and Wenham Police Chief Thomas Perkins report that a man has been charged with allegedly stealing mail and packages from homes in both communities, while another set of thefts in Wenham remains under investigation.

DAVID E. GOMEZ, AGE 25, OF REVERE was charged by Chelmsford Police with:

Receiving stolen property over $250

Larceny under $250

Possession of a Class B Drug

Wenham Police charged GOMEZ with nine counts of Larceny Under $250.

Wenham Police are investigating other unrelated cases involving similar thefts that are expected to result in charges against a second individual.

Police in both communities are sharing information about their investigation and the suspects with law enforcement agencies throughout the region to see if there are any other incidents tied to either of the suspects.

At approximately 11:59 a.m., Tuesday, Chelmsford Police responded to Berkeley Drive for a report that a man in a white van that pulled into a resident’s driveway and took an envelope out of the mailbox.

As officers were speaking with the resident, a man in the van described by the resident was seen down the road. An officer stopped the van and spoke with the driver, who was later identified as GOMEZ.

During the subsequent investigation, officers found a cardboard box in the front passenger’s seat with multiple items inside. Officers seized several Christmas cards, envelopes addressed to sanitation and recycling workers and packages from the vehicle. The cards were addressed to several addresses in both Chelmsford and Wenham.

Also in the van, a pill bottle was found with what is believed to be a dose of the psychedelic drug LSD inside.

In GOMEZ’S pockets, police found $505 in cash that had allegedly been taken from numerous cards and multiple gift cards.

He was placed under arrest and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Wenham Police were notified.

Wenham Police had been conducting their own investigation into multiple unrelated thefts of hundreds of dollars in cash, gift cards and checks left outside and, through a collaboration with Chelmsford Police, officers identified GOMEZ as a suspect.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of mail or package theft is asked to contact their local police department. The Chelmsford Police Department can be reached at 978-256-2521 and the Wenham Police Department at 978-468-4000.

Chelmsford and Wenham Police would like to offer tips to residents to help avoid package and mail theft during the holiday season.

FedEx and UPS offer services to assist customers during the holidays. To best ensure that your packages are not taken, they recommend the following strategies:

Request notifications on your deliveries, via phone or email, to monitor your packages in transit and upon delivery.

Always require a signature on your deliveries to ensure packages are never left unattended.

Consider sending deliveries to an alternate location where someone will be able to receive them – whether that be a workplace, a neighbor or friend’s house, or a FedEx or UPS location.

Schedule your delivery for a specific date and time that you’re expected to be home.

Set up a vacation hold if you plan on traveling during the holidays so gifts won’t be left on the doorstep.

Be aware of “tailgating,” which refers to the people who follow delivery vehicles and steal the packages after they are dropped off.

If you find your package has been stolen, reach out to your local police and report it immediately.

Never accept a surprise delivery where a payment is required, and never give out personal information when receiving a delivery that you purchased.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.